Disney's ART OF ANIMATION RESORT Information & Questions

[pixidustmom]

Well just one more week and I will get to make my dining reservations for our stay at AoA.

 

[CaseyMRoyer]

Just returned from a fabulous stay in a one bedroom villa at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We are booked in a card suite for a week in December. We are a family of five. This is our first cash reservation in eight years. This was a last minute trip so no dvc available. I'm worried we won't like the family suite. I'm going to miss my kitchen, washer/dryer, free DVDs, king bed. I looked yesterday for alternate lodging but Disney is just about fully booked. For those of you with art of animation experience, do you think we will be happy there after staying dvc for eight years?

What week in Dec? Family of 3 here booked in a Cars suite 12th-18th. 9yo son

 

[quandrea]

What week in Dec? Family of 3 here booked in a Cars suite 12th-18th. 9yo son

Maybe you'll get our suite. We check out on the twelfth. Sorry. I saw your post elsewhere looking for a dismeet for your son. I'm sure he will make friends at the pool. Mine did at animal kingdom.

 

[Kabby]

We booked a "Family Suite" at AOA, with Nemo/Cars/Lion King to be assigned upon check-in...does this mean as soon as I check-in online over over the phone a few weeks beforehand I will find out which section our room will be in or will we not find out until physically arriving at AOA?

 

[jenseib]

We booked a "Family Suite" at AOA, with Nemo/Cars/Lion King to be assigned upon check-in...does this mean as soon as I check-in online over over the phone a few weeks beforehand I will find out which section our room will be in or will we not find out until physically arriving at AOA?

no. They may text you on arrival day with your room number. But not everyone is getting those.
They don't assign rooms till about 3 days prior to arriving

 

[Kabby]

no. They may text you on arrival day with your room number. But not everyone is getting those.
They don't assign rooms till about 3 days prior to arriving

Thanks - I'll keep an eye out for a text (maybe) that day. The surprise will add to excitement of our arrival

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

We called to make our room requests a couple weeks ago. I know these are just requests, but we asked for early check in, and we requested a building number. My DH could hardly finish the words early check in before the phone rep. started a long speech about check in being at 3 pm and getting a text when the room was ready. We already knew that, but I was kind of annoyed. I thought you could make requests and, if possible, they would fufill them. She finally said, like she was bending the rules and doing us a favor, that she would make the note anyway. As far as the text goes, our last trip, we never received a text, and after calling the hotel three times, we learned that the room had been ready, and we were never notified and no one had actually bothered to check when we called earlier.

So long story short, is this a new policy, or was the phone rep. just quoting us the official policy?

 

[dansdad]

We called to make our room requests a couple weeks ago. I know these are just requests, but we asked for early check in, and we requested a building number. My DH could hardly finish the words early check in before the phone rep. started a long speech about check in being at 3 pm and getting a text when the room was ready. We already knew that, but I was kind of annoyed. I thought you could make requests and, if possible, they would fufill them. She finally said, like she was bending the rules and doing us a favor, that she would make the note anyway. As far as the text goes, our last trip, we never received a text, and after calling the hotel three times, we learned that the room had been ready, and we were never notified and no one had actually bothered to check when we called earlier.

So long story short, is this a new policy, or was the phone rep. just quoting us the official policy?

This.

 

[jenseib]

We called to make our room requests a couple weeks ago. I know these are just requests, but we asked for early check in, and we requested a building number. My DH could hardly finish the words early check in before the phone rep. started a long speech about check in being at 3 pm and getting a text when the room was ready. We already knew that, but I was kind of annoyed. I thought you could make requests and, if possible, they would fufill them. She finally said, like she was bending the rules and doing us a favor, that she would make the note anyway. As far as the text goes, our last trip, we never received a text, and after calling the hotel three times, we learned that the room had been ready, and we were never notified and no one had actually bothered to check when we called earlier.

So long story short, is this a new policy, or was the phone rep. just quoting us the official policy?

thts the official policy. There are a lot of bad CM's and some you kind of have to insist they make a note. Now you can check in at anytime but rooms are not guaranteed to be ready till 4.

I have never gotten a text that a room is ready. my sister did, staying at the same resort but for some reason I never do. You may have a better chance if you do online check in.

 

[AngiTN]

We called to make our room requests a couple weeks ago. I know these are just requests, but we asked for early check in, and we requested a building number. My DH could hardly finish the words early check in before the phone rep. started a long speech about check in being at 3 pm and getting a text when the room was ready. We already knew that, but I was kind of annoyed. I thought you could make requests and, if possible, they would fufill them. She finally said, like she was bending the rules and doing us a favor, that she would make the note anyway. As far as the text goes, our last trip, we never received a text, and after calling the hotel three times, we learned that the room had been ready, and we were never notified and no one had actually bothered to check when we called earlier.

So long story short, is this a new policy, or was the phone rep. just quoting us the official policy?

The text room notices are 100% better now than they were during your last trip. They used to be sporadic and unreliable. In the past 7 resort stays for 2015 we have gotten ours every time.

But as for the CM, they were correct on it all. Check in is 3:00 PM and anything earlier is Pixie Dust, as they say. Since not everyone does know that of course they have to give the speal each time.
My advice is don't bother with phoning anything in, Use the online check in feature.
You can tell them right there that you would desire early check in above all else if at all possible.
Do know that anytime you call the "front desk", even from within your room, you are reaching a call center, not the "front desk" and probably speaking to someone who has never been to the resort you are staying at.

 

[Kabby]

What do you recommend as the best requests to make for your room assignment at AoA?

 

[AngiTN]

What do you recommend as the best requests to make for your room assignment at AoA?

We are staying at Nemo and I requested ground floor and near transportation. Those work best for us as we don't care about pool noise and I hope for the shortest walk to the lobby and bus areas
If we had wanted quiet we would have gone with higher floor

 

[pixidustmom]

I am thinking of making my request lake view. I don't really care about the walk since lets face it, what's a few more steps after walking miles.lol I am going to leave it up to my friends who are coming and see what they prefer. If they want the shortest walk then we will do the that.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Well, we changed our Little Mermaid room to a Nemo Suite for April!!! I was very worried about how cramped we will be, even if only for 2 nights. I was able to get the 30% off military discount for the Nemo Suite, so definitely worth the upgrade!! So excited!!!

Dumb question....are there elevators in those buildings?

 

[trishadono]

Well, we changed our Little Mermaid room to a Nemo Suite for April!!! I was very worried about how cramped we will be, even if only for 2 nights. I was able to get the 30% off military discount for the Nemo Suite, so definitely worth the upgrade!! So excited!!!

Dumb question....are there elevators in those buildings?

Yes in the center. Can't believe how big Mason is getting. We are trying it in Jan so let me know if any q's Candace. Glad you got a good deal. We did too

 

[trishadono]

I am thinking of making my request lake view. I don't really care about the walk since lets face it, what's a few more steps after walking miles.lol I am going to leave it up to my friends who are coming and see what they prefer. If they want the shortest walk then we will do the that.

I have done lake view many times at POP, its worth the request

 

[Mousemommy1]

Yes in the center. Can't believe how big Mason is getting. We are trying it in Jan so let me know if any q's Candace. Glad you got a good deal. We did too

Oh awesome!!! Can't wait to see your review!!!

Yes, he is getting so big...almost walking now!!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Spent another night at AoA in August. This was my view. I promise that one day, I'll spend more than one night in there! The problem is there are never any sales!

from raw-4363 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

 

[bluezy]

Spent another night at AoA in August. This was my view. I promise that one day, I'll spend more than one night in there! The problem is there are never any sales!

from raw-4363 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

Awesome picture!!! That view is exactly why I love walking around the resort (especially along the lake) and across the bridge at night. The sites are stunning.

 

[jbsa]

Spent another night at AoA in August. This was my view. I promise that one day, I'll spend more than one night in there! The problem is there are never any sales!

from raw-4363 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

what room/section were you in?